DFAX vs VYM
Dimensional World ex US Core Equity 2 ETF vs Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF
Which is better, DFAX or VYM?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Value.
VYM has a lower expense ratio. DFAX led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | DFAX | VYM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.28% | 0.04%Best |
| AUM | $12.6B | $81.6B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.24% | 2.22% |
| Holdings | 10,538 | 613 |
| YTD Return | +16.25%Best | +11.47% |
| 1Y Return | +23.89%Best | +15.94% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.82%Best | +18.03% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.04% | +12.35%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.2% | 13.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -28.1% | -15.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,881 | $17,901Best |
| Fund Family | Dimensional | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Value |
| Inception | Mar 6, 2008 | Nov 10, 2006 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 13, 2021 to Sep 21, 2026 (5 years).
DFAX vs VYM growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 5 years both funds cover.
DFAX vs VYM Performance
Dimensional World ex US Core Equity 2 ETF (DFAX) is an ETF from Dimensional and Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DFAX returned +23.89% while VYM returned +15.94%. Year to date, DFAX is up 16.25% versus a gain of 11.47% for VYM.
Over three years, DFAX compounded at +21.82% per year against +18.03% for VYM; over five years the annualized figures are +11.04% and +12.35% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DFAX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% compared with 13.8% for VYM. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -28.1% for DFAX and -15.8% for VYM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DFAX charges 0.28% per year while VYM charges 0.04%. On a $10,000 position that is $28 vs $4 annually, a gap of $24 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DFAX currently yields 2.24% against 2.22% for VYM.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.0% of VYM's money is in holdings DFAX also owns.
Stated as a floor: for DFAX, our book for it covers 86.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
6 positions in common, counted across the 10,172 positions we hold weights for in DFAX and 557 in VYM, against full books of 10,538 and 613.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DFAX and VYM you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, DFAX or VYM?
DFAX has an expense ratio of 0.28% while VYM charges 0.04%. VYM is the cheaper option, by $24 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DFAX or VYM?
Over the past year DFAX returned +23.89% vs +15.94% for VYM, so DFAX leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DFAX or VYM?
DFAX has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 13.8% for VYM. Worst drawdown: DFAX -28.1% vs VYM -15.8%.
Should I hold both DFAX and VYM?
DFAX and VYM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, DFAX or VYM?
DFAX yields 2.24% while VYM yields 2.22%, so DFAX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VYM better than DFAX?
VYM has a lower expense ratio. DFAX led over 1Y and 3Y, VYM over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.